The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1887-09-22
SONS TnlNes Amour CnAaLEsToN. IN,
Adfew Rcasons Suggested Tor tho Reduction In
the Clty's Trade and for the sloth OF Her Pro-

e. Z O.
A'few Reasons Suggested Tor tho Reduction In
. the Clty's Trade and for the sloth OF Her Pro-
grCss. -'E. ..... s!
From the Berkeley Gazette1 - !
The merchants, factors and business men
generally OF Charleston have an exceeding
ly funny idea of business enterprise. They
seem to think that because Charleston is
the metropolis of the State all trade of the
State must centre there, no matter what
terms she makes, or whether or not any
effort Is made to secure that trade. No
people talk more about what to do to secure
prosperity, and none do less than the
Charlcstonians.
Charleston must depend on the cotton
and rice and naval stores she handles fOr
prosperity; these are the staples of this and
adjoining States. To handle these goods Il is
necessary to reach out into the producing
districts, and offer the f0lher and planters
such inducements as will prove to them
that the Charleston mnthet is second to
none. Does Charleston 10 this?
About cotton, the first staple of the three:
In days that have gone by Charleston was
one OF the cotton centres of the world,
handling more of the eccy stuff than both
Savannah and WilmingtOn; this season
there is hardly any doubt that Savannah
and Wilmington together will handle four
bales to CharlestOn's one. Aud the cause
OF this lies at Charleston's own door. For
the past several years she has seen the trade
slipping through her fingers, but not once
has sue taken Il polite step to arrest the
flight Of the goose that lays the golden egg
During the time that Charleston has beCu
losing cotton her sister cities have been
gaining it. Would you know why? Here
is condensed tale Of three cities: During
the past ten years, more than ever it has
dawDed on the South that "compctiti0n is
the life of trade" Wilmington and SuYau-
nah have gone into il heartily, but some
how The thing seems too rich for Charles.
tons blood. The former cities have strivcn
to keep the expense charges per bale at the
lowest possible rate; the latter city has held
expenses at what the shipper would bear.
Savannah makes terms with the steamships;
Charleston grOWls about unjust di climiua-
tlonS Wilmington and Savannah control
the main lines Of railroad leading into
Charleston, and while they were securing
these roads, over which the cotton must bc
hauled, Charleston built big bridge across
to the cabbage patches Of ST. Andrews
parish, and Is now agitGtcd over The build
inS OF railroad neatly mile long to run
along the Cooper River water front, and
which must depend on railroads owned by
Nortn Carolina and Georgia for every
f'N'iS' VI III -IO'ulhS litlSHy Haubu. he
cOmm'ing cities have secured 10 themselves
The inland facilities" While Charleston hiss
becu sweating about terminal facilities. J"
WilEingtOn and Savannah cotton buyerS
arc scattered all over what should be
Charleston8 territory, doing Il good bust
rc5S, while The Charleston buyer sits in his
office on the Bay or one of The wharvcs,
as IT," case may be, smok ny fragrant
iinVnna "cOtton sample" and waiting for
the trade.
Another thing thG' is killing cut Charles
toms cotton trade is the practice Of kCcpiny
"huying scales The mr>lIaycsts whit
th'y are. i has tcca denied that such
scales are used, pu: The following vii! prove
that either the Northeastern Railroad Com
panA .-COnsidcred TO be 4 square concern
| or q certain factor in The cry are llaying a
little game Of cuchrc in which The plani"r
holds no hand: One day last week a PLANTER
living considerably lees that 80 miles lIn Tive
| railroad took y bale uf cotton 10 the rcurrSi
depot, saw it weighed Oh what is known as.
a standard scale, took a receipt sldiro Ilv
| numlt" OF poundS, and had it ShiMnl ~
Chalica'0n the SAlno day. 90 tie t0liow-
Ing Cay hc received an account snics 3bOv-
ing thc bale sixteen pounds short.
l. ;S not Pleasant fora Newspaper pub.
ll>htd Within thlcc miles Of the ci,v OF
Charleston TO make ,hG3C statements lnIt
they are facts patent to thousands, and the
sooner they are corrected the better It will
| be-